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Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Cover via AmazonStudies conducted by positivity psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky point to 12 things happy people do differently to increase their levels of happiness. These are things that we can start doing today to feel the effects of more happiness in our lives. (Check out her book The How of Happiness.) …

Express gratitude. – When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value. … We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have.

Cultivate optimism. – …People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.

Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous. … If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an older version of yourself.

Image via WikipediaPractice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain. … What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness. …

Nurture social relationships. – The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships. …

Develop strategies for coping. – How you respond to the ‘craptastic’ moments is what shapes your character. … It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal.

Increase flow experiences. – Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still. It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task. …

Savor life’s joys. – Deep happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy. … It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them.

Commit to your goals. – … When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing. Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.

Practice spirituality. – When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognize that life is bigger than us. We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever. …